Venus, back up to sixth in the world, hasn’t made the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows since 2010 – but on this evidence, there is little to suggest that she won’t do the same again. There’s still plenty of tennis to be played in NY but the 36-year-old remains in contention after easing past Germany’s Julia Goerges 6-2 6-3 to end the day session on Ashe.
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Serena, 34, was captured twerking in the video for the song “Sorry”, but it’s not the first time she has appeared in a music video.
Williams’s victory against an over-matched King may have been one of her easiest, the world number one in complete control from the outset, looking like a champion who never had to shift out of first gear. Nishikori split the first two sets against qualifier Karen Khachanov. “You want to be out there and play the game you want to play”.
As the showers lingered, 11 doubles matches scheduled for outside courts were cancelled.
Andy Murray had to play through a deafening downpour on his way to victory over Marcel Granollers and a place in the US Open third round.
Talking of players who may well be very exhausted Pablo Carreno Busta has played 31 sets of hard court tennis in the last three weeks and even for the fit Spaniard that may be too much.
It’s why they pay him the big bucks. Murray is in the unique position because he played under the Wimbledon roof as well, which he said was “quieter”.
A 5-2 lead was cut short when Granollers surprisingly broke his serve to remain in the set, but Murray dug deep to break back immediately, requiring seven set points.
Granollers later opened up two break points but the battling Murray saved both and as the rain, and noise, gradually eased, it was one-way traffic from then on in.
The U.S. Open is the only major at which Tsonga has not reached the semifinals.
Murray – who won the U.S. Open in 2012 after claiming the junior title in 2004 – enjoyed his time under the roof although it took the second seed a while to get used to the rain pelting down on the roof.
When heavy rain began pelting the closed roof atop Arthur Ashe Stadium, Andy Murray couldn’t pick up the usual sounds of a tennis match.
Fifth-seeded Simona Halep beat 2015 French Open runner-up Lucie Safarova in straight sets to move on to the third round of the U.S. Open.
Third round: (men) Tsonga bt Anderson 6-3 6-4 7-6.
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But instead of a din caused by chattering fans or rain on the roof, this time it concerned Wozniacki complaining that her opponent was making too much noise every time she employed her freakish forehand slice. “So, yeah, that’s what I think of her”. She added later that it was nice to not need to wait out a rain delay. This is the fourth time Vinci has reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Open – she’s done it just three times combined at the other majors.
